Review of the NACON REVOLUTION 5 PRO PS5 controller for heavy gamers! Customizable button types and body weight!

With a look and feel similar to the original PS5 controller, PS users can easily get used to it!

The R5PRO is a controller developed for PS5 and officially licensed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. The price is 38,280 yen (tax included). In addition to the controller, the case, which includes a special case to house the controller and various parts for customization, comes with a USB cable for wired connection, a USB receiver for wireless connection, and a cleaner.

The R5PRO looks almost identical to the PS5's DualSense controller, but with the crosshairs and L-stick in opposite positions, an arrangement similar to the Switch's Pro controller and the Xbox controller. Weighing 309g, it is 30g heavier than the DualSense's 280g, but this is within the margin of error. I actually held both and could not feel much difference.

In addition to the left and right sticks, the buttons for ○, ×, □, △, L1/L2, and R1/R2 are arranged, and those who have used PlayStation-type controllers will quickly get used to them. On the back, the S1-S4 buttons are located on the grip and its base. In addition, there is a switch to switch between PS5, PS4, and PC, and the buttons can be switched depending on the device to which they are connected.

Although the back buttons are a given on controllers for heavy gamers, the buttons on the grip are easy to touch, especially when you are in the heat of a game. If you do use the back buttons, I recommend using only the S1 and S2 buttons at the base of the grip.

Personally, what I was most pleased with was the trigger lock feature. This feature allows you to change the depth at which the buttons are pressed, which is ideal for buttons that have "play" in them, such as L2 and R2. In the case of the R5PRO, L2 and R2 with the trigger locked are pressed less than half as deeply as L1 and R1. This is especially useful in FPS and TPS where speed before shooting is also important.

Incidentally, the R5PRO supports both wired and wireless connections. For a wired connection, connect the PS5 to the "R5PRO" with the included cable, just as you would connect the DualSense to the main unit. For wireless connection, insert the included USB receiver into the slot on the PS5.

Customize the controller to your liking with a wide variety of parts

The small case that comes with the controller also contains parts for modification. In addition to the four-way controller, left and right sticks, there are even weights that can be inserted into the grip section. There are two types of sticks: one with a concave finger pad and the other with a protruding finger pad. The cross-shaped keys are available in two types: a literal cross type and a circular type. The most detailed are the weights: two weights of 10g, 14g, and 16g each are provided. All the conversion parts can be replaced without the use of tools. The stick and crosshairs can be removed by pulling them off, and the weights can be stored by sliding the grips to reveal a space for them.

Incidentally, it is not necessary to use two sets of weights. You can put 10g in one and 16g in the other, or you can put weights in only one of them. This can be done flexibly according to the controller's holding habits. By adjusting the weights, you can adjust the subtle force and tactile feel when holding the controller, which may be important when playing e-sports games.

In addition, four shafts, two thick and two thin, are included in the package, as well as an external microphone. The microphone can be used by inserting it into the slot on the bottom of the controller.

For detailed settings of the R5PRO, users can install a PC application that can be downloaded from the official website, and then connect the R5PRO to a PC with the included cable. The application is currently available in English, but the company plans to release a Japanese version around the time of the product's official release.

Up to four individual settings for button placement and sensitivity can be saved for PS5, PS4, and PC. Customization is possible according to game genres, such as shooting, fighting, action, and RPG, so we recommend using the app as much as possible when using the R5PRO. The advanced/classic buttons on the back of the controller can be toggled to easily change settings. The advanced mode reflects the settings made with the app, while the classic mode is the default setting with no customization.

Actual play with the "R5PRO

To test the usability of the R5PRO, we played "Apex Legends" and "Gran Turismo 7.

The FPS game "Apex Legends" uses the L2 and R2 buttons for aiming and shooting. The R5PRO's trigger button has a lot of play until it is pushed all the way in, but this can be adjusted by using the trigger lock mentioned above. By adjusting the trigger buttons so that they stop just before they produce a pressing judgment, the L2 and R2 buttons during trigger lock could be used with the same feeling as L1 and R1.

I am not good at "playing" with the trigger buttons, so I had to reverse the button control settings and assign the shooting and stance buttons to L1 and R1 in this title, but with the R5PRO, such a hassle would be unnecessary. Personally, I was very grateful for this feature, as changing the button layout can make operations a bit confusing.

Next, we played Gran Turismo 7. As a driving simulator, this game requires delicate controls, so you need to pay attention to various factors while racing, such as decelerating when turning a corner, accelerating afterwards, and in some cases, adjusting fuel consumption and checking the wear of the tires.

Since it is important to be able to modulate the gas pedal and brake, the "play" or depth of push in, which was rather annoying in "Apex Legends," is rather useful here. So I played with the trigger lock function turned off. When I actually drove on the circuit, I found it easy to make subtle acceleration and deceleration because of the firm depth of the trigger button.

On the other hand, it is regrettable that the adaptive trigger and haptic feedback functions in DualSense are not available. In Gran Turismo 7, you can intuitively feel how the tires are touching the ground or slipping through the weight of the trigger button and the vibration of the controller, but without these features, you are left to judge by the screen and sound.

We also tested "Apex Legends" and "Gran Turismo 7" with wireless connections, and we did not notice any particular delays. Although it may depend on the wireless LAN environment at home, the time lag caused by the wireless connection does not seem to be a concern.

The R5PRO controller we tested this time is a moderately priced, high-priced gaming controller. However, it is both customizable and easy to use, as the sticks, crosshairs, and weight can be adjusted without tools, and a dedicated PC application can be used to fine-tune button placement and stick sensitivity. It is a product with functionality commensurate with its price. If you are a heavy gamer who plays games in earnest, you may want to consider purchasing this product.

NACON REVOLUTION 5 PRO Controller Black

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• Product Name.
• NACON REVOLUTION 5 PRO
• Release date: December 14, 2023
• Price: 34,800 yen
• Included: Storage case x 1, Accessory storage box x 1 (including 2 2D pads, 6 weights , 6 joystick heads), External microphone x 1, 3m USB-A/USB-C cable x 1, USB dongle x 1, Instruction manual x 1, Cleaning Cloth x 1